Our Story
It all started with one vision: To make learning as simple as possible. Li-Ying discovered her true passion for educating students of all learning capabilities in 2018 when she first joined a major tutoring company as an independent tutor. She spent many years of tutoring students from Middle School to College levels, and came to the realization that students weren’t getting enough academic support in school. Teachers were constantly out of office, and substitute teachers weren’t concerned enough about the students’ learning. Many of the students were not up to par with their grade levels and struggled immensely particularly with Reading Comprehension and Mathematics. Parents were frustrated with schools and their children were losing interest quickly as the curriculum became more and more complex each school year. Then, the COVID-19 epidemic hit and schools were taken online. This further worsened the situation as students were now unable to interact or ask questions in-person. Course materials that teachers created were unorganized and confusing. Students began to lose more interest in school and turned to other distractions in their lives. It was then that Li-Ying decided it was time for things to change.
Brilliant Minds Prep was created in 2022 as a system of learning that encompassed strategies for simple and efficient learning while incorporating core curriculum standards. Li-Ying wanted a way to showcase this system of learning to every student and let them know that they have a chance at success. Today, Brilliant Minds Prep continues to stand strong as a company that values commitment, knowledge, and successful learning experiences. We believe that every student deserves a chance and no one should be left behind.
Meet Our Team
Li-Ying Dockery
Founder
Born in Singapore, Li-Ying first moved to the United States at the age of 9. She spent much of her time adapting to the American education system and soon became a top student at her school, attaining enrollment into the National Honor Society each year. By the age of 17, Li-Ying was offered acceptance and a financial scholarship to attend Denison University in Granville, OH. Li-Ying decided to defer her enrollment into the university and instead moved to Western Australia where she spent one year in a pre-university program to learn more about the Australian education system and culture. Li-Ying then moved to Ohio in 2009 where she enjoyed 4 years of college life in a private, liberal arts college.
Throughout her college years, Li-Ying tutored and mentored many of her fellow schoolmates in English and Math, and volunteered her time as a Writing Tutor at the University’s Writing Center as well. In 2013, Li-Ying graduated from Denison University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Creative Writing. She held several positions after graduating from college, none of which she felt passionate about. In 2018, Li-Ying decided to change career paths and throughout the years, gained professional tutoring experiences with students of varying ages and learning disabilities. During her many years of tutoring, Li-Ying discovered her passion for educating and guiding students towards their goals. Today, Li-Ying has helped numerous students achieve high levels of success and attain acceptance into top-tier colleges such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale, and more.
Outside of tutoring, Li-Ying enjoys outdoor activities and Zumba, as well as trying new food recipes. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three (soon-to-be four) kids!
Marcell Dockery
Co-Founder / Systems Administrator / Tutor
Marcell is a professional IT Engineer and has great passion for the technology industry. He has attained many industry recognized certifications in the technology field and has years of experience in every domain from website development, administration, and digital marketing. With an extensive portfolio of professional websites for a multitude of companies, Marcell has incorporated his knowledge into making Brilliant Minds Prep the most reliable, immersive, and user-friendly platform for every student around the world. Aside from technical operations here at Brilliant Minds Prep, Marcell assists students with homework assignments and provides mentoring.